Shock absorber structure



June 14, 1949, R. H. wHlsLER, .JR

SHOCK ABSORBER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1944 ATTORNEYS R. H. WHISLER, JR

SHOCK ABSORBER STRUCTURE June 14, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Aug. 28, 1944 A FIG.6.

FIC-3.5.

FIC-3.7.

INVENTOR.

RALPH yH.wH|sL|sR Jr.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 14, 1949 SHOCK ABSORBER STRUCTURE Ralph H. Whisler, Jr., Monroe, Mich., assignor to Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Monroe, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 28, 1944, Serial No. 551,531 9 claims.v (c1. 277-45) This invention relates generally to shock absorbers and refers more particularly to hydraulic shock absorbers of the direct acting type.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a shock absorber of the type mentioned capable of being installed in a substantially horizontal position upon vehicles to stabilize the action of relatively movable parts thereof. More specifically, it is an object to provide a shock absorber having an improved valve assembly for controlling the flow of hydraulic medium between the pressure cylinder and the reserve chamber thereof.

Another object is to provide a shock absorber valve assembly having a body and an adjusting nut forming a housing for a compression valve and spring therefor.

Another object is to provide a valve assembly wherein a member within the housing.l and preferably carried by the body, serves as a stop for the compression valve and as a guide for a spring for said compression valve.

Another object is to provide a valve assembly wherein the nut forms a combination guide and retainer for a rebound valve and spring there- L.

for.

Another object is to provide a compact assembly that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install and efcient in operation.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the -accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view of a hydraulic shock absorber structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary Vertical longitudinal sectional view through the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the valve assembly and associated parts of the shock absorber;

Fig. 4 is an inner end view of the body Ml of the valve assembly;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the body illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the valve 48;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;" f

Fig. 8 is an end view ofthe closure D, with the seal assemblies 24 and 25 respectively removed;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the washer 32.

Referring now to the drawing, A is a pressure cylinder, B is a reciproc-ating piston in said cylinder, Cv is an actuating rod for the piston, D is a combination closure for one end of the cylinder and a guide for the rod, E is a vvalve assembly at the other` end of the cylinder, F and H respectively are apertured attaching heads for the rod C and cylinder A adapd to be connected to relatively movable parts (not shown) of a vehicle, J is a tubular casing substantially concentric with the pressure cylinder A and cooperating therewith and with the head H and closure D to form a reserve chamber l0, K is an auxiliary chamber on top of and rigid with the casing J, and M is a dirt shield carried by the head F and substantially concentric with the casing J.

As shown, the piston B is mounted on a reduced inner end portion I I of the rod C and slidably engages the inner walls of the pressure cylinder A. The head l2 of the piston is held on the rod C by a sleeve type nut I3 threadedly engaging the reduced portion II of the rod and has inner and outer passages I4 and I5 respectively therethrough for hydraulic medium in the cylinder A. A peripherally anged disc valve I6 slidably mounted on a collar I1 on the reduced portion II of the rod controls the flow of hydraulic medium through the outer series oi passages I5 on the compression stroke of the piston and has suitable openings I8 registering with the inner series I4 of passages. A coil spring I9 surrounding the collar I'I between the valve I6 and a washer 20 on the rod serves to normally hold the valve I6 in closed position against the head I2 of the piston.

A valve 2| slidable on the sleeve type nut I3 controls the now of hydraulic medium through the inner series of passages I4 on the rebound stroke of the piston and is normally held in closed position by means of a coil spring 22 encircling the sleeve type nut I3 between a lateral ange 23 thereof and the valve 2|.

The closure member D is within and constitutes an endwise extension of the cylinder A. Preferably the closure member D contains two seal assemblies 24 and 25 respectively engaging the piston rod C, and has inclined passages 26 and 21 for conducting to the reserve chamber I0 any hydraulic medium that may be scraped or wiped from the rod C by the seal assemblies 24 and 25.

Located between the closure member D and casing J, upon the outer side of an annular ange 28 of the closure member, are inner and outer locking rings 29 and 30 respectively, a resilient outer locking rings 29 and 3D respectivelymay be adjusted into and out kof assembled relation with the other parts, the washer 32 has suitable holes 33 for the reception of a suitable removing V tool (not shown), and the rings 29 and `3) are.Y

provided with slots 34 and 35 respectively for receiving portions of a Wrenchffo'rfother suitable removing tool (not shown).

To prevent portions of the gasket 3l Lfrom being compressed or forced through :the holes 33 in the washer 32 into the slots 34 in the inner locking ring 29 and thereby causing inadequate; sealing, the washer 32 hassuitable projections 36 that are spaced fromt'hefholes33 'andfare re ceivedfin theA slots '3 the.l innerlocking; ring when they parts are 1 assembled.: ."Thus vthesholes 33 in the washer 32 will be out ofsregistration with the slots34 when-the: projections 36 arereceived in said slots.

The inner locking; ring .29 is"spaced slightly from the closure member D tolprovide an annular pasage 3.? for hydraulicimedium--from-the pas. sages 2S and 27 respectively,l andthe lian'ge 28 andthe lateral flange .Mlahave :passagesi 4I andv i2 respectively for hydraulic:.medium.;wPrefer ably the bodyi isspaced. froml-the. central portion d3 of the `head Hi to provide 'a .recess A4, Vand is provided with one or more'passages extend-A ing between saidrecess 44: andthe-reserve chamber l. f A substantially-cup fshaped locking nut @it threadedly eng-ageslthe interiorwof the cup shaped body-dil and hasacentral passage M for' hydraulic medium; Llll discfvalve 4i8 controls ythe now of hydraulic-mediumethrough the ycentral passage 4l in thev nut 4t during-the compression stroke of the piston- B andis" normally held in closed position by a coil springy 49,'iwhile a disc valve 50 controls the flowwof hydraulicmediumthrough the outerpassages` 42 :during therebound stroke of the piston and normally held in closed position by a coil spring 5l. 'i Preferably an abutment-member orr stop 52 for .thefvalve 138 is pressedwithinthe base-53 of? theibody and serves Vto limit `the opening-movement.- o-f saidA valve. Such member 52 isfwithinf-andoservesras a guide for Ithe coilspring-AS. l In fact-this member 52, the spring 49 andthe lvalver are.en,. closed within a sectional-housing'lformed.by the body lll and nut. The nut-46 is: adjustable' relative tothe body 4U t'ovaryithe tensionof both.,

springs `Alll and 5l.

A lateral flangeyfi of thefnut- 46 'cooperates with the bodyi) to limit-movement ofthe spring- 5i and valve vEl). *The annularapart-BS of the nut i' 46 serves as a guidefor1 bothlthef-'valve Eil and spring 5I during movement-thereof` If desired, the compression valve 48 may have a restricted central- -orice--6ll@for-hydraulic medium substantially in alignment with the pas-` sage'l in the nutf and with-va central passage i el in the stop member 52 for-saidfvalverso that 4 a restricted amount of hydraulic medium may flow through the orifice 60 from the cylinder A to the reserve chamber l0 and vice versa during reciprocating movement of the piston B in the cylinder.

The attaching head H is rigid with the casing J, while the head F is rigid with the piston rod C. The tubularidirtlshield M ifs 'rigid withzthe head F and cooperatestherewith-itc forman enclosure for the closure member D and associated parts. In the present instance a pair of longitudinally alignedair ,bleed notches or grooves 'lil and 'll respectively are provided in the closure member D and bodyxlli) of the valve assembly, preferably at the top-ot the 'shock absorber, to permit air to escape from thei-nterior of the cylinder A to the reserve chamberl during the compression and rebound strokes of the piston.

En order-that the air bleed notch lil in the closure member D will be in proper alignment withftheriotch H ,in the :bodyd of theizvalve asseniblyiwhen thel parts :are assembled, fthe .cas-

ing J is proyidedgat thentop thereof withapro- A mud wiperpl of anrsutabIematerial such as Wedding of fabric-covers -fthegjndentation J2 and is anchored in a suitable recessel inthe'top of the: casi-rigidA for wiping, .engagenfienl'ffwithr the dusttshield-fM.; i

The .auxiliary-chamber K- i-s; in the iorm of a laterally projecting substantiallyrLy-shaped; =dome uponitheztop; of the: casing andas preferably weldedffor otherwise'rigidly; secured: theretof: An

.opening' in the casing` J festa-blishes, communication4 betweenV theV interior-of the reserve,` chamber iii and the interior `of the auxilianynhamber Ei, andashieldor deeotorl'isxedt'o the-icas; ing, Jaoyer-:theV opening fl and Yprojectselaterally withinftheauxiliary; chamberK. .,Normallythe'A level of hydraulic medium in the auxiliary chamf ber K is' approximately -atthe line V82. `AThusl the hydraulicmedium. :Willf,-ll the reserve chamber i0 andpartially, l1-the auxiliaryechambereK,

While air may collect in the top of auxiliary chamber- K above-the level of hydraulic medium therein. I As a result;;thefreserve chamber! El and auxiliary chamber-K` collectively lwill-have lsuiiicientv capacity'nto :take' caret10,f vthehydraulic .medium in the shocks,absorbervunderxall .conditionsof operation.,

In use,;the pistorrB will/be on its compression stroke in the cylinder A when the attaching heads F and.4 H at opposite'zends-.ofthey Shockfabsorber' are .moved toWard-eachotherllby relatively movable parts of a vehicle (not shownifxto whichltheyA are,..connected. ,On the' compression stroke; the

hydraulicmedium, in the cylinder A will'nowthrough the outerfpassageszl' in the-pistoni to open thevalve 16, andA will :flow-through title-passage 'l in the nut 4S past the valvejde and thence` through the inner .passagesl in' thebody A!) of the valve assembly to the reserve chamberi L0. f

When the attaching:headsmsandsfanefmoved away fromeach'other bytherelatiily movable parts of the vehicle, the pistoni B1 Willibe oniits rebound stroke. and willacause hydraulimnredium in the reserve chamber l0 to ovi thrl'iughgthei outer passages14'2 inr thebodyi oithe .valve asi sembly,pastfthepvalvef'il to the;interior:o the.

cylinder A, and will cause hydraulic medium in the cylinder A to flow through the inner passages I4 in the piston B to open the valve 2l. Thus the proper resistance in both directions will be properly afforded.

During the compression stroke, air in the cylinder A may escape through the notch Il in the body @il of the valve assembly to the reserve chamber lll and thence through the opening 80 in the casing J to the interior of the auxiliary chamber K. During the rebound stroke, air in the cylinder A may escape through the notch l0 in the closure member D to the reserve chamber lil and thence through the opening Se in the casing J to the auxiliary chamber K.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A valve assembly of the class described comprising a substantially cup shaped member having a lateral flange, the base of the cup shaped member and said flange having one or more passages therethrough for hydraulic medium, an inverted substantially cup shaped member opening toward and cooperating with the cup shaped member aforesaid to form an enclosure, the second member being adjustably connected to the first mentioned member and having a lateral flange substantially parallel to the ange of the rst mentioned member, the base of said second member having a passage therethrough for hydraulic medium, a disc valve within said enclosure controlling the flow of hydraulic medium through the passage in the base of said second member, a stop for said valve extending through the base of the rst member and having a passage therethrough for hydraulic medium, a coil spring sleeved on said stop and normally holding said disc valve in closed position, an annular valve sleeved on said second member between the parallel flanges of both members and controlling the ilow of hydraulic medium through the passages in the lateral flange of said rst member, and a coil spring sleeved on said second member between the flange thereof and said annular valve and normally holding the latter in closed position.

2. A valve assembly of the class described comprising a substantially cup shaped member having a lateral flange, the base of the cup shaped member and said flange having one or more passages therethrough for hydraulic medium, an inverted substantially cup shaped member opening toward and cooperating with the cup shaped member aforesaid to form an enclosure, the second member being adjustably connected to the first mentioned member and having a lateral fiange -substantially parallel to the flange of the first mentioned member, the base of said second member having a passage therethrough for hydraulic medium, a disc valve within said enclosure controlling the flow of hydraulic medium through the passage in the base of said second member, a stop for said valve extending through the base of the first member and having a passage therethrough for hydraulic medium, a coil spring sleeved on said stop and normally holding said disc valve in closed position, said disc valve having an orice for hyraulic medium in communication with the passages aforesaid in the stop and in the base of said second member, an annular valve sieeved on said second member between the parallel anges of both members and controlling the flow of hydraulic medium through the passages in the lateral flange of said first member, and a coil spring sleeved on said second member between the ange thereof and said annular valve and normally holding the latter in closed position.

3. A valve assembly of the class described comprising a substantially cup shaped member having a lateral flange, the base of the cup shaped member and said flange having one or more passages therethrough for fluid, an inverted substantially cup shaped member opening toward and cooperating with the cup shaped member aforesaid to form an enclosure, the second member having a lateral flange substantially parallel to the flange of the rst mentioned member, the base of said second member having a passage therethrough for fluid, a valve within said enclosure controlling the flow of iluid through the passage in the base of said second member, means including an abutment member within said enclosure for limiting the opening movement o-f said valve, said abutment member extending through the base of the first mentioned member and having a passage therethrough for fluid, spring means sleeved on said abutment member and normally holding said valve in closed position, said valve having an orifice for fluid in communication with the passages aforesaid in the abutment member and in the base of the second member, a valve sleeved on said second member between the parallel flanges of both members and controlling the flow of fluid through the passages in the lateral flange of said nrst member, and spring means sleeved on said second member between the flange thereof and said last mentioned valve and normally holding the latter in closed position.

4. A valve assembly of the class described comprising a substantially cup shaped member having a lateral flange, the base of the cup shaped member and said flange having one or more passages therethrough for fluid, an inverted substantially cup shaped member opening toward and cooperating with the cup shaped member aforesaid to form an enclosure, the second member having a lateral flange substantially parallel to the ange of the first mentioned member, the base of said Second member having a passage therethrough for fluid, a valve within said enclosure controlling the ilow of fluid through the passage in the base of said second member, means including an abutmentI member within said enclosure for limiting the opening movement of said valve, said abutment member extending through the base of the first mentioned member and having a passage therethrough for fluid, spring means sleeved on said abutment member and normally holding said valve in closed position, said valve having an orifice for duid in communication with the passages aforesaid in the abutment member and in the base of the second member, a valve sleeved` on said second member between the parallel flanges of both members and controlling the flow of fluid through the passages in the lateral flange of said rst member, and spring means sleeved on said second member between the flange thereof and said last mentioned valve and normally holding the latter in closed position, said second member being adjustable relative to said first member to vary the tension of both spring means aforesaid.

5. A valve assembly of the class described comprising a substantially cup shaped member having a lateral flange, the base of the cup shaped member and said flange having one or more passages therethrough for fluid, an inverted substantially cup shaped member opening toward and cooperating with the cup shaped member vaforesaidto form an enclosure, the second member having a lateral flange substantially vparallel tor-the ange .of the first mentioned member, the base vof said second member having a passage therethrough for fluid, a valve within said enclosure controlling the ilov/ of fluid through the passage inthe base of said second member, means including an abutment member Within said'enclosure for limiting'the opening mevement of said valve, said abutment member extending `through thebase of the iirst mentioned member and having a passage therethrough for iiuid, spring ymeans sleeved on said abutment member and normally holding said valve in closed position, a valve sleeved on said second member between the parallel flanges of both members and controlling the iioW of fluid through the passages in the lateral iiange'of said rst member, and spring means 'sleeved on said second member between the flange vthereof and `said last mentioned valve and Anormally holding the latter in closed position.

6. A valve assembly of the class described comprising a pair -of relatively movable members forming alhollow enclosure, one ofsaid members having a lateral flange provided with one or more .passages for hydraulic medium, the other of said members having a passage for supplying hydraulic rmedium to the interior of said enclosure, -said 4one member having one or more passages for 'discharging hydraulic medium from said enclosurefa disc `valve Within said enclosure controlling the oW of hydraulic medium through said supply passage in said other member, means including an abutment member within said enclosure for limiting the opening movement of said valve, said abutment member extending through a Wall of said enclosure and having a passage for discharging hydraulic medium from said enclosure, spring means sleeved on said abutment member and normally closing said valve, and a spring pressed valve outside and slidable on a part of said enclosure for controlling the flow of hydraulic medium through the passages in said lateral `flange.

7. A valve assembly of the class described comprising a pair of relatively movable members forming a hollow enclosure, one of said members having a passage for supplying hydraulic medium t the interior of said enclosure, the other `of said members having one or more passages for discharging hydraulic medium from said enclosure, a disc valve within said enclosure controlling the flow of hydraulic medium through said supply passage, means including an abutment member Within said enclosure for limiting the opening movement of said valve, said abutment member extending through a Wall of said enclosure and having a passage for discharging hydraulic medium from said enclosure, and spring means sleeved on said abutment member and normally closing said valve.

8. Avalveiassemblyiof the class described comprising a pair of 'relatively movable members Vforming a hollow enclosura'one lof said members having a passagefor supplying hydraulic medium to the interior of said enclosure, the other of said vmembers having one or more passages for discharging hydraulic medium from said enclosure, a disc valve Within said enclosure controlling Ythe iow of hydraulic medium through said supply passage, means including an abutment member 4Within said enclosure for limiting the opening lmovementof said valve, said abutment member extending through a Wall of said enclosure vand yhaving a passage for `discharging lhydraulic medium from -saidenclosura and spring means sleeved on said abutment member and normally closing said valve, said-disc -val-ve having an oricepermitting hydraulic medium to iiovv from thesupply passage of `said enclosure to the discharge passage `.in -said abutment member.

9. Inla valve assembly for hydraulic shock absorbers, a pairwof cooperating `members forming ahollow enclosure, one `oisaid members having a supply -passage .for hydraulic medium extending therethrough into :said enclosure, the second of said members having one or more discharge passages `for. hydraulic -medium extending there- `throughfrom said-enclosure, a valve within -said enclosure .controlling said supply passage, and means Aincluding ran abutment member Within said enclosurevfor limiting .the opening movement of said ,.valve, said-abutment member extending throughawall-.of saidl enclosure and having a passage` ktherethrough Vfor conduct-ingV hydraulic .medium `fromsaid enclosure, -said valve having `an-oriiice 4through vwhich,hydraulic medium from Asaid supply passage .maypass directly to the passagein said abutment member, and spring means encircling said `abutment member and normally holding said val-ve in closed position.

RALPH H. WHISLER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following-references are of record in the 

